The Korea Herald

[World Cup] Ruiz guides Costa Rica into first World Cup quarter final

Bryan Ruiz calmly guided 10-man Costa Rica through a tense penalty decider against Greece on Sunday and into the World Cup quarter finals for the first time in the country's history.The Ticos' captain scored the goal that put Costa Rica ahead and also put away his penalty as the Central Americans kept their nerve to win the decider 5-3.The two sides were 1-1 after regulation time with Sokratis Papastathopoulos cancelling out Ruiz's goal in injury time to force extra time which also ended in dead

June 30, 2014

[World Cup] Ruiz guides Costa Rica into first World Cup quarter final

[World Cup] Greater commitment needed to Asian soccer

SAO PAULO ― The group stage matches have wrapped up here in Brazil, and the 32 World Cup teams have had their shot to prove what they’re worth. While this is the stage when the real fun gets underway, one region in particular leaves with their heads hung low as the entire Asian representation ― Iran, Australia, Japan and South Korea ― was eliminated.South Korea’s defeat to Belgium on Thursday sealed the winless fate of the Asian Football Confederation teams, the first such performance since 1990

June 29, 2014

[World Cup] Coach Hong’s legacy tainted by disappointing World Cup

SAO PAULO (Yonhap) ― The head coaching position of the South Korean men’s national team is often referred to as the “poisoned chalice” ― for the job isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be.It is arguably the most visible job in South Korean sports. And with fame and the high profile come unreasonable expectations, which have been so heightened after the Dutch coach Guus Hiddink guided South Korea to the semifinals at the 2002 FIFA World Cup.Though it was a historic run that probably will never b

June 29, 2014

[World Cup] Coach Hong’s legacy tainted by disappointing World Cup

[World Cup] Shining on the big stage

SAO PAULO (Yonhap) ― South Korea barely put up a fight as it was knocked out of the FIFA World Cup in Brazil with two losses and a draw, having scored just three goals.The team’s scoring woes and problems on defense are well documented. Amid such an air of negativity, midfielder Son Heung-min has shone as one of the few bright spots for South Korea.Son, who turns 22 next month, was the youngest member of the youngest-ever South Korean World Cup squad. Yet no one played with more assurance of a b

June 29, 2014

[World Cup] Suarez told FIFA panel bite was not deliberate

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) ― Luis Suarez told FIFA’s disciplinary panel that he did not deliberately bite Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup.The Uruguay striker’s defense that he lost balance and fell on his opponent will now be presented to FIFA’s appeal panel, after his national federation notified FIFA late Friday it would challenge the nine-match, four-month ban.“In no way it happened how you have described, as a bite or intent to bite,” Suarez wrote in Spanish in a letter dated June

June 29, 2014

[World Cup] Colombia beats Uruguay 2-0 at World Cup

With a spectacular swivel-and-strike, James Rodriguez provided one of the highlights of the World Cup and gave Brazil reason to worry.Rodriguez scored one of the best goals of the tournament and added a second to put Colombia into the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time with a 2-0 win over Uruguay on Saturday _ setting up a meeting with the host nation. Uruguay`s Cristian Rodriguez jumps high to head the ball during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Colombia and Uruguay at t

June 29, 2014

[World Cup] Colombia beats Uruguay 2-0 at World Cup

[World Cup] Brazil beats Chile in shootout at World Cup

Brazil advanced to the World Cup quarterfinals on Saturday with a 3-2 shootout win over Chile following a tense and thrilling battle that ended 1-1 after extra time. David Luiz (C) of Brazil celebrates after winning the penalty shootout of the FIFA World Cup 2014 round of 16 match between Brazil and Chile at the Estadio Mineirao in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Saturday. (Yonhap)Neymar, David Luiz and Marcelo scored in the shootout, and Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar saved two penalties before watching

June 29, 2014

[World Cup] Brazil beats Chile in shootout at World Cup

[World Cup] Uruguay coach quits FIFA position over Suarez ban

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez quit FIFA's strategic committee on Friday in protest at the ban football's governing body imposed on his team's star striker Luis Suarez for biting an Italian player.He accused FIFA of an indiscriminate use of power by imposing an “excessive” punishment on Suarez. FIFA had made a “scapegoat” of Suarez and had “punished him with excessive severity” but the forward will have the full support of the Uruguayan football authorities, Tabarez told reporters on Friday.Tabarez

June 28, 2014

[World Cup] 10-man Belgium sends Korea home

SAO PAULO, Brazil -- South Korea’s slim chance of advancing to the round of 16 faded Thursday in Sao Paulo as a 10-man Belgium secured a late 1-0 victory over the Taeguk Warriors in their final group match. Instead, Algeria earned its first-ever ticket to the knockout round by drawing 1-1 with Russia in Curitiba.Belgian captain Jan Vertonghen, in for an injured Vincent Kompany, pounced on a rebound off goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu to score in the 78th minute -- the third straight game in which Belgi

June 27, 2014

[World Cup] 10-man Belgium sends Korea home

[World Cup] Ronaldo earns Portugal 2-1 win over Ghana, both out

BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) ― Cristiano Ronaldo finally made his mark at the World Cup ― but it came too late to spare Portugal an early exit from Brazil. The world player of the year broke his scoring drought at the tournament with an 80th-minute winner in Portugal’s 2-1 victory over Ghana on Thursday.That result, however, left the Portuguese level on four points with United States in Group G but with an inferior goal difference to the second-place Americans, who lost 1-0 to Germany in Recife. Ghana

June 27, 2014

[World Cup] Mueller’s 9th career World Cup goal lifts Germany over U.S.

RECIFE, Brazil (AP) ― With Thomas Mueller in a perfect position to pounce on a rebound, American cheers for yet another spectacular Tim Howard save didn’t last long. The U.S. goalkeeper was unable to cut down the angle after diving to punch away a deflected ball, and Mueller did what he does so well ― calmly drive a first-time shot inside the far post for his ninth goal in nine career World Cup games, giving Germany a 1-0 victory. “I saw the ball ricochet toward me, away from the goal keeper,” M

June 27, 2014

[World Cup] Algeria into second round after 1-1 draw with Russia

CURITIBA, Brazil (AP) ― Algeria qualified for the World Cup knockout stages for the first time, with Islam Slimani’s headed equalizer giving his team a 1-1 draw against Russia on Thursday and enough competition points to move into the second round.Algeria was the last team to secure a spot in the Round of 16 when it placed second to Belgium in Group H. Its progress means Africa has two representatives in the second round for the first time ― Nigeria qualified on Wednesday. The Algerians next pla

June 27, 2014

[World Cup] FIFA bans Suarez for 4 months for biting opponent

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) ― Luis Suarez exits the World Cup with one of the longest bans in tournament history, and his reputation once again in tatters.The Uruguay forward, widely regarded as one of the best players in the world, was banned by FIFA from all football for four months on Thursday for biting an Italian opponent in an incident that marred the team’s victory and progression to the second round.It is the third time he has served a suspension for biting an opponent ― after similar incidents

June 27, 2014

[World Cup] S. Korea gutsy without polish in loss to Belgium

In their 1-0 loss to Belgium that knocked them out of the FIFA World Cup in Brazil on Thursday, the South Koreans did everything offensively but to score a goal.Statistically and aesthetically, there was little question about which was the superior offensive side at Arena Corinthians in Sao Paulo. South Korea outshot Belgium, 18-16, and also held the edge in shots on goal, 12-11. South Korea also attempted more passes than Belgium, 501-421, and was more accurate, with a 73 percent success rate c

June 27, 2014

[World Cup] S. Korea gutsy without polish in loss to Belgium

[World Cup] S. Korean coach blames himself for World Cup exit

After his team was eliminated from the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil with a 1-0 loss to Belgium, South Korean head coach Hong Myung-bo on Thursday blamed no one but himself. Hong Myeong-bo (Yonhap)"I think our players did the best they could," he said at the post-match press conference. "More than anyone else, I had the most shortcomings. I have no problem with our players."He declined to grade either himself or the team after South Korea went winless in matches in Group H. South Korea opened wi

June 27, 2014

[World Cup] S. Korean coach blames himself for World Cup exit

[World Cup] 10-man Belgium sends Korea home 1-0

SAO PAULO, Brazil -- South Korea’s World Cup campaign ended Thursday in Sao Paulo as a 10-man Belgium secured a late 1-0 victory over the Taeguk Warriors. Meanwhile, Algeria secured its first-ever ticket to the round of 16 by drawing 1-1 against Russia in Curitiba.Belgian captain Jan Vertonghen pounced on a rebound off goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu to score in the 78th minute – the third game in a row that Belgium has scored the winner in the last 20 minutes. Korea’s coach Hong Myung-bo made two chan

June 27, 2014

[World Cup] 10-man Belgium sends Korea home 1-0

[World Cup] Messi ‘from Jupiter’

PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil (AP) ― About a dozen Argentine fans couldn’t get enough of the smell of victory in the Beira-Rio Stadium, dancing and singing in their seats more than than an hour after their team beat Nigeria 3-2.They had good reason to celebrate.Once again Lionel Messi had put on a World Cup show with two goals, but this time his whole team ― aside from a couple of defensive blunders ― was part of the performance.In its third straight win, Argentina attacked with more flair than previousl

June 26, 2014

[World Cup] Belgium won’t rest on its laurels

SAO PAULO, Brazil ― Belgium may be sitting comfortably atop Group H, but the team’s quest for points ahead of the round of 16 means it will play as hard in its match against South Korea as in any other game, coach Marc Wilmots said Wednesday.After victories over Algeria and Russia, Belgium has sealed its entry to the knockout rounds even before its final group match against a struggling South Korea.Wilmots said the team nonetheless has prepared for the match just like any other and aim to rack u

June 26, 2014

[World Cup] Hong’s team playing to give Koreans ‘hope’

SAO PAULO, Brazil ― South Korean football coach Hong Myung-bo does not have a religion. If his squad won the unlikely victory against the widely favored Belgium on Thursday in their final Brazil World Cup group match, he would not call it a miracle, he said at a press conference in Sao Paulo on the eve of the big game. Instead, he said he simply wanted his players to do their best and to play for the Korean people.“Right now, for us to go to the round of 16, of course the conditions are not favo

June 26, 2014

[World Cup] Hong’s team playing to give Koreans ‘hope’

[World Cup] Uruguay defends Luis Suarez as FIFA scrambles

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) ― As the world was judging Uruguay’s Luis Suarez for biting a player in the World Cup, his teammates, coaches and fans in his soccer-crazy country defended the star, blaming the foreign media, his Italian opponents and uneven treatment. World Cup organizers scrambled Wednesday to quickly decide on a punishment before Uruguay plays Colombia Saturday in the round of 16. “We have to resolve it either today or tomorrow,” FIFA disciplinary panel member Martin Hong told reporters W

June 26, 2014

[World Cup] Uruguay defends Luis Suarez as FIFA scrambles